The Long Point Trail in New River Gorge is a popular 3-mile round-trip hike that winds through forest, wildflowers, and rhododendron thickets before ending at a rocky overlook with a spectacular view of the New River Gorge Bridge. The trail is mostly easy with a short, steeper section near the end. The overlook offers a dramatic, unobstructed view of the bridge spanning the deep gorge, making it one of the park’s most iconic and rewarding hikes. Trail Info Length 3 miles Elev

Hiking the Beauty Mountain Trail in New River Gorge is a short, easy walk that delivers stunning views with minimal effort. Tucked away off a gravel road in Edmond, the unmarked, roughly one-mile out-and-back follows a flat ridgeline through rhododendrons and hardwood forest to a series of dramatic cliffside overlooks. Within minutes, hikers are rewarded with sweeping vistas of the New River far below. Though signage is minimal and cell service spotty, well-worn paths make it

Hiking the Kaymoor Miners Trail in New River Gorge is a short but intense plunge into both natural beauty and industrial history. The trail begins with a steep, rocky descent through a lush Appalachian forest before reaching the top of an epic wooden staircase—over 800 steps—that leads deep into the gorge. Along the way, the trail passes remnants of the Kaymoor One coal mining operation, including ruins of old buildings and rusted machinery overtaken by moss and vines. At the

Hiking the Endless Wall Trail in New River Gorge is an unforgettable blend of rugged Appalachian beauty and jaw-dropping cliffside panoramas. As you wander through a forested landscape, patches of lush rhododendron and wildflowers give way to dramatic overlooks dangling above the river. The trail weaves across exposed sandstone ledges where sheer drop-offs reveal the river hundreds of feet below. Whether you’re chasing golden-hour light or simply soaking in show stopper views

Backpacking the Trout Run Valley Loop, also known as the Perry Valley Loop, offers a rewarding escape for backpackers seeking solitude and natural beauty. Straddling the border between West Virginia and Virginia, the approximately 30-mile circuit traverses the George Washington National Forest and the Wardensville Wildlife Management Area, revealing a diverse mix of landscapes—from dense forests to rugged ridgelines. Along the way, hikers are treated to sweeping views and pri

The following is an evolving list of plane crash hikes in the Northeast and Southeast, each with a brief description, location, and links on how to find them. If considering hiking to one of these sites, please recognize that several of them mark the loss of life and refrain from disturbing or removing any wreckage. United States Air Force T-28 Trojan Location Lyndhurst, Virginia A May 1, 1964 plane crash site located along the eastern slope of Humpback Mountain, just a handf

A good beginner backpacking loop in the heart of West Virginia's Cranberry Wilderness, one of the largest designated wilderness areas east of the Mississippi. The loop offers an incredible amount of solitude, landscapes similar to the Pacific Northwest, numerous waterfalls, and exceptional backcountry camping. Due to a few areas where the trail is challenging to locate, a downloaded trail map is recommended. In the spring, water shoes and hiking poles can prove useful when fo

An easy-going day hike with a small amount of off trail navigation leading to the wreckage of a US Air Force C-45 that crashed into Middle Mountain in West Virginia's Laurel Fork South Wilderness. Trail Info Length 3.8 miles Elevation gain 360 feet Route Out & back Permit required no Dogs allowed yes Trailhead elevation 3,110' Water throughout, along the Laurel Fork River Don't miss camping at the Laurel Fork Campground Hike to the Laurel Fork Wilderness USAF C-45 Plane Crash

In the heart of the West Virginia's Yew Mountains rests the largest Forest Service wilderness area in the eastern United States, Cranberry Wilderness. The more than 47,000 acre wilderness and designated black bear sanctuary features a beautiful and rugged landscape. Its mountains and valleys are filled with dense Appalachian hardwoods, thick rhododendron groves, and towering stands of red spruce. Its high plateaus are blanketed in sphagnum moss, drawing striking similarities

Enjoy beautiful streams, waterfalls, swimming holes, high mountain meadows, spruce-filled alpine forest, and the wreckage of a 1967 Piper PA-23 plane crash on this 16.5-mile lollipop loop. Great for beginners and seasoned backpackers alike, the Spruce Knob/Seneca Creek Loop is an excellent route for all, and serves up some of the more exceptional backcountry campsites in the region. Trail Info Length 16.5 miles Elevation gain 2,133 feet Route Loop Permit required no Dogs allo

On the morning of November 28, 1995, Colin Campbell, a 31-year-old pilot employed by Casey Industries, embarked on a flight from Braxton County Airport in West Virginia to his home in Lynchburg, Virginia, piloting a twin-engine Cessna 414. The flight departed at 9:30 AM and there was initial radio communication between Campbell and air traffic control. However, just eleven minutes into the flight, at 9:41 AM, the aircraft vanished from radar. In the days that ensued, exhausti

If you've never heard of the North Fork Mountain to Chimney Top hiking trail you're missing out. What might be the best hike in the entire state of West Virginia, North Fork Mountain to Chimney Top is packed with sweeping ridgeline views, a lush subalpine vibe, and some of the best backcountry camping in Appalachia. There's simply no way to oversell this one. It's fantastic if done as a day hike, but even better as a short overnight backpack. Trail Info Length 5.3 miles E

In the tiny community of Seneca Rocks, West Virginia, near the confluence of Seneca Creek and the North Fork River, an imposing crag rises nearly 900' from the forest floor. The towering wall of Tuscarora sandstone is impossible to miss. Beloved by all who call the Mountain State home, Seneca Rocks offers up massive views to those willing to bypass the "Since 1971, 15 people have died at Seneca Rocks from falls" sign and scramble to its summit. It's one of the best sunrise

Designated a national park in 2020, New River Gorge National Park & Preserve is an outdoor lover's paradise. Every year nearly two million people visit its more than 100 miles of hiking trails, world-class rock climbing routes and legendary whitewater runs. In late summer and early fall people from all over the world flock to the gorge for Gauley season, one of the top whitewater runs in America. Jackie and I did this trip late summer and had a blast. Day 1: Endless Wall Cath

Resting less than one mile from the banks of the Ohio River, ten miles south of Wheeling in Moundsville, West Virginia, lies the Grave Creek Mound, an ancient earthwork with truly fascinating history. Built by the Adena, an Early Woodland period Native American culture, sometime around 250 BC, the mound measures more than 60-feet in height with a base of roughly 240-feet in diameter making it the largest surviving conical burial mound in the United States. In 1770 an early s